Poll Shows Support Only for Cheaper Water Bond, High-Speed Rail

California voters like the ideas behind a comprehensive water bond and a high-speed rail project – but a new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows the price tags are giving them some sticker shock.

The poll
shows support in the low-40s for both the $11 billion water bond
currently scheduled for next year's ballot and the $68 billion
high-speed rail project set to break ground later this year.
But that support rises to the mid-50s when voters are asked
hypothetically about the same projects at a lower cost. And
clear majorities say those projects are important.

The PPIC's Mark Baldassare says voters are wary of the state
over-spending. "A lot of people have had a lot of
experience with state deficits in California in the last 10
years. That's something that I think has made them very
cautious in terms of spending," he says.

Among other findings: Californians are split over whether the
state should loosen its environmental regulations to help create
jobs; they're reluctant to raise more taxes; and roughly half of
them view Governor Jerry Brown favorably.